A significant announcement has been made regarding a new treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, a form of advanced blood cancer. The treatment, brentuximab vedotin, sold under the brand name Adcetris, has been recommended for routine use on the NHS. It is believed that approximately 800 people with the advanced form of Hodgkin lymphoma could benefit from this development.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has made the decision to recommend the use of brentuximab vedotin in combination with other therapies. The treatment combines brentuximab vedotin with doxorubicin, dacarbazine, and vinblastine, administered to patients as an infusion into a vein. Expert evidence suggests that this combination could prolong the time before disease progression and improve overall survival compared to standard chemotherapy.
The new recommendation applies to patients with a stage three or four CD30-positive form of Hodgkin lymphoma, which has not been previously treated. This offers an alternative to chemotherapy on its own, providing hope for patients who may have been told that no further effective treatment is available to them.
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Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, emphasized the significance of this recommendation, highlighting the potential to improve patients' quality of life. This new treatment has the potential to increase the time before cancer progression and improve longevity when compared with current standard treatments.
Health minister Ashley Dalton expressed optimism, stating that the new treatment will provide hope to hundreds of cancer patients and their families every year at a fair cost to the NHS. This development aligns with the government’s efforts to support the development of innovative medicines as part of the Plan for Change and the National Cancer Plan.
Common symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma include painless swelling in the neck, armpit, or groin caused by an excess of affected white blood cells in the lymph nodes. However, the NHS emphasizes that swollen lymph nodes are often a response to infection and are unlikely to indicate Hodgkin lymphoma. Additionally, some people with Hodgkin lymphoma may experience other general symptoms.
This new treatment represents a significant advancement in the care and support available to patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma, offering hope and improved outcomes.